EP 0377498 B1 19950524 - Deflector for an optical beam including refractive means.
Title (en)
Deflector for an optical beam including refractive means.
Title (de)
Ablenkungsvorrichtung mit lichtbrechenden Elementen für einen optischen Strahl.
Title (fr)
Déflecteur pour faisceau de lumière comprenant des moyens réfractifs.
Publication
Application
Priority
US 29278789 A 19890103
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0377498A2] An optical beam phase shifter includes a liquid crystal cell having a common electrode (12) on a first windows and a multiplicity of parallel stripe electrodes (14) on a second window. A multiplicity of control signals are applied between the individual stripe electrodes (14) and the common electrode (12), thereby creating local variations of the refractive index of the liquid crystal molecules (13) therebetween, which variations cause differential phase shifts across the cross section of a light beam (18) incident thereon. An optically-refractive element (11), having an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of the liquid crystal material (13), is interposed between the beam (18) and the liquid crystal material (13). The refractive element, illustratively a prism (11), increases the angle of incidence of the beam (18) entering the liquid crystal material (13), thereby increasing the beam travel distance through the liquid crystal molecules. This allows the use of a thinner layer of liquid crystal molecules, and hence, improved response time of the optical beam phase shifter to changes in the control signals, and reduced fringing effects between stripe electrodes (14).
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G02F 1/29 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
G02F 1/292 (2013.01 - EP US)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
FR GB NL
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0377498 A2 19900711; EP 0377498 A3 19910502; EP 0377498 B1 19950524; US 5018835 A 19910528
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 90300043 A 19900103; US 29278789 A 19890103